How You Can Be Heard

1. You can use the following site to locate specific information about the County budget - http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/budget/

2. It is also highly recommended that you develop emails and letters with regards to our opposition and direct them to Gerry Hyland, Sharon Bulova, Jeff McKay, and Penelope A Gross. Links to their respective emails can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/board/

3. You may find the Fairfax County Public School system’s stated beliefs and mission at http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/sg/bmv.htm#mission. The listed academic goals are found at http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/sg/goal1.htm . Alternatively, you may send an email toSchoolBoardMembers@fcps.edu and jack.dale@fcps.edu

4. Let your neighbors and community members know about the proposed budget cuts and the threat it poses to our school, our school system, and our neighborhoods. Get them involved.

What Can You Do?

For starters, let Fairfax County leaders know how you feel!

We've started an online petition through the Petition Site to gather support and aggregate feedback from the community at large. Please sign the petition and share it with fellow concerned community members, including parents of preschoolers, school-aged children as well as members of the community at large who are interested in maintaining the high standards of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) that impact our housing values.

Also, please join our Facebook Page. Here you can learn about upcoming budget events and community dialogue sessions as well as post your feedback and comments on the proposed FY2010-2011 FCPS Budget.

Who Are We?

We are a group of parents deeply concerned about the proposed cuts in the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) FY2010-2011 budget. One of the proposed budget cuts is the elimination of full-day kindergarten in all non-Title I schools in Fairfax County. The county estimates this would result in a $13m savings against a projected $176m shortfall.

This proposal is unacceptable for a multitude of reasons.

*Viewing half-day kindergarten as a vehicle for savings is shortsighted. Research shows that investment in quality early childhood education generates returns of 3 to 1 or more by lowering grade retention and drop out rates in later years.

* It is unwarranted to consider eliminating full-day kindergarten as part of the proposed 2011 budget cuts as it is an essential component of the academic foundation provided within the elementary school setting.

* Full-Day kindergarten builds strong reading and math skills and provides our youngest students with crucial instructional time to prepare them well for the challenging FCPS currriculum. Children in full-day score significantly higher on both math and reading standardized achievement tests.

*Teachers report that the full-day format allows them to address state standards more effectively and address the needs of students with differing abilities.

*All residents of the county benefit from the recognized strength of FCPS. Eliminating full-day kindergarten would be a giant step back and would have resounding negative long-term consequences.

This is a call to action to SAVE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN and to preserve the quality of our schools in Fairfax County.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT